Milking apparatus



Oct. 8, 1929. F. s. FROST 1,731,045

HILKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1924 ull...-

Patented Oct. 8, 1929 p v UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE FRANK S. FROST, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS MILKING APPARATUS Application filed September 18,1924. Serial No. 738,334.

My invention relates to the art of milking The milking apparatus proper comprises a mechanically, and more particularly to impail or receptacle 21 of suitable construction provements in means for el'l'ecting pressure for receiving the milk, and ahead or cover 22 pulsations in the teat cups. closing said pail. In this instance, the head Heretofore complicated pulsators have 22 is provided with a cylindrical flange 23 56 commonly been employed to produce a varywhich extends downwardly through a flanged ing suction in the teat cups. These pulsators opening 24% in the top of the pail 21. The operate in most instances to connect the teat flange 23 defines a small chamber 25 which cups alternately with two dii'l'erent and un-' is connected with the suction pump 18 by a 10 equal sources of pressure. flexible tube 26. A rubber disk 27 removably The primary object of my invention is to mounted on the lower end of a vertical rod provide simple and improved means for con- 28 extending slidably through a bearing 29 trolling the suction in the teat cups, said in the top of the head 22 is adapted to engage means permitting the use of an ordinary sucthe lower edge of the flange 23 to close the 15 tion pump or its equivalent connected to dichamber 25. The disk 27 is clamped between rectly exhaust said cups. two plates 30 and-31 which are removably A more specific object resides in the prosecured to the rod28 by a wing nut 32. A vision of a novel valve in the suction line coil spring 33 fitting over the upper ends of leading to the teat cups, said valve being conthe rod 28 and the bearing 39 abuts at its op- 20 strucled to permit a sudden exhaustion of posite ends against the head 22 and a washer air but to restrict the return flow, thereby pre- 34 on the upper end of the rod, and tends to venting a drop in the suction sufiicient to rehold the rubber disk 27 against the flange lease the teat cups during the milking op- 23. It will be evident that on the suction oration. strol-tccit' the pump 18, the vacuum will be Further objects and advai'itages will become confined to the chamber 25, and that on the apparent as the description proceeds. pressure stroke, the pressure will lower the in the accompanying drawings, l i 'urc 1 disk 27 against the force of the spring 33 to is a perspective view of a portable milking open the chamber to the pail 21.

apparatus embodying the features of my in- The top of the head 22 is formed integral so vention. with one or more nipples or fittings 35 to each Fig. 2 is a vertical. section of the milk reof which a tube 36 leading to a cluster of teat ceptacle through one of the connections for cups 37 is attached. Each fitting 35 is formed the teat cup claws. with a tortuous passage 38 having a valve seat Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the 39 adapted to be closed by a floating ball 40. milk receptacle. The ball is located in a small chamber 41 de- In the e p y embodlmellt- Of y fined by a vertical extension 4201? the fitting vol tion, 10 represents a small truck frame 35 d l d t th t b a transparent which is provided at one end witlr a pair of 43 through which the flow [of milk from t 11 at the it end Wlth 2 the teat cups 37 can be observed. The member 40 porting peg 12, and which can be earned or 43 is removably clamped against upper moved irom place to place a nandle 13 conedge of the extension 42 y a Gland 44: Suit necting the upper ends of two vertical standi f 1 .1311 a Th t 39 urds 1e. Supported on the frame ll) is an a y p 0V1 8C W1 p m0 6 sea and the ball 40 constitute a one-Way Valve electric motor 15 having an extension cord f 1 0 th fi f H h d 45 16, a reduction gearing 17 adapted to be 01 Pleven mb e 0W0 alr 10m 16 ea driven by the motor, and a suitable suction 22 to the t P pump 18 pivotally supported by the handle Means Prowded prventlng the ball 13 and having its piston rod 19 connected to 40 from Closlng the P g 58 completely on the end 01- a crank arm 20 on the reduction the pr sure s roke of the pump 18. In the so gearing. present instance, this means is in the formot a properly located vent, such as the notch 46 in the valve seat 39. V

In use, the suction stroke of the pump 18 induces a relatively high vacuum in the chamber 25 and the teat cups 37, and thereby causes a flow of milk past the ball 10. This flow can be observed through the member 43. On the pressure stroke of the pump, the plate 27 is lowered to permit the milk to flow into the pail 21, and the ball 40 is seated to prevent the vacuum in the teat cups 37 from being completely destroyed. The vent or notch 46 permits the flow of a small stream of air past the ball valve to lower the vacuum in the teat cups 37 but not sufficient to release the teat cups. There is thus obtained a pulsating suction by the use of simple and inexpensive means.

lVhile I have disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention with considerable particularity for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the same but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A milking apparatus having, in combination, a receptacle adapted to be subjected to varying pressure impulses, said receptacle having a passage adapted to be connected with a teat cup, and a check valve in said passage permitting a free flow into said receptacle, the seat of said valve being formed with a vent permitting a restricted flow past said valve out of said receptacle.

2. A milking apparatus having, in combination, a receptacle, a hollow head mounted on said receptacle and opening therein, a suc tion means including a suction pump connected with said head, means responsive to the pressure in said head for closing said head during the suction stroke of said pump and opening said head during the pressure stroke of said pump, a fitting on said head having a passage, a teat cup connected to said fitting and communicating through said passage with the interior of said head, a valve seat formed in said passage, a ball valve adapted to engage said seat on the pressure stroke of said pump to close said passage, and a notch in said seat for permitting the flow of a small stream of air past said ball when the latter is seated.

3. A, milking apparatus having, in combination, a receptacle, means for creating alternating pressure and suction impulses in said receptacle, a fitting having a passage opening to said receptacle, a teat cup connected to said passage, and a valve in said pas sage, said valve comprising a seat formed in said passage, a valve member movable to engage said seat during the pressure impulse and to leave said seat during the suction impulse, and a vent in said valve permitting a 

